FORT COLLINS â€“ Quarterback Conner Smith is confirmed starter for Colorado Stateâ€™s game on Saturday against Hawaii, coach Jim McElwain said this afternoon at his weekly news conference.

Smith, a redshirt freshman from Richmond, TX, will make his first collegiate start against the Rainbow Warriors. Heâ€™s getting the chance due to multiple injuries at the position. The starter, Garrett Grayson, has been out since breaking his clavicle against Air Force on Sept. 29. Graysonâ€™s backup, M.J. McPeek, was injured in CSUâ€™s last game, at San Diego State on Oct. 13. Smith took over in that game and finished 18-for-22 for 165 yards and an interception.

McPeek (shoulder) is still not 100 percent, but will be ready for reserve duty should the Rams need it on Saturday.

Kensler joined The Denver Post in 1989 and has covered a variety of beats, including Colorado, Colorado State, golf, Olympics and the Denver Broncos. His brush with greatness: losing in a two-on-two pickup basketball game at Ohio State against two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.